Method and apparatus for removing and disposing of wrapping bands from bound coils

ABSTRACT

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING CIRCUMFERENTIAL WRAPPING BANDS FROM BOUND COILS BY SEVERING THE BAND DURING ROTATION OF THE COIL AND, THEREAFTER, FEEDING THE BAND THROUGH A ROTATABLE DEFORMING UNIT.

jJmzs, 1971 'A LLIND 3,557,591

METHOD AND APPARATUS ORREMOVING AND .DISPOSING OF med April we,y i'sai BY Meyn, WMM /oclq ATTORNEYS Jan. 26, 1971 A. L. LIND 3,557,591 METHOD'AND'-PPA US FOR REMOVING AND DISPOSING OF 1 wRAPP G. BANDS FROM BOUND coILs Filed April 29, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y INVENTOR. ARTHUR L. LIND ATTORNEYS METHOD'AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING AND DISPOSING 0F A. L. LIND -`wRAPPINc; BANDS FROM BOUND colLs Filed Apyn 29, .196@ x f Y 5 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. ARTHUR L. LIND ATTO R N EYS United States Patent O METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING AND DISPOSING OF WRAPPING BANDS FROM BOUND COILS Arthur L. Lind, Salem, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Gulf & Western Industrial Products Company Filed Apr. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 724,836 Int. Cl. B21c 47 02 U.S. Cl. 72-130 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Method and apparatus for removing circumferential wrapping bands from bound coils by severing the band during rotation of the coil and, thereafter, feeding the band through a rotatable deforming unit.

The present invention is directed toward the winding art and, more particularly, to an improved method and apparatus for removing and disposing of circumferentially extending wrapping bands from bound cylindrical coils.

The invention is especially suited for use in processing coils of steel strip and will be described with particular reference thereto; however, it will be appreciated the invention is capable of broader application and could be utilized in the processing of a variety of types of bound coils.

In the steel industry coils of strip steel are commonly bound for handling and shipment by one or more circumferentially extending flexible steel wrapping bands. As is apparent, the bands must be removed and disposed of prior to working the coiled strip.

In the past, the band severing and removal has been accomplished manually. The problems involved with manual handling of the band are evident. For example, the bands were generally severed with hand shears and often could not be pulled away from the coil but were permitted to fall into a pit beneath the coil processing area. Subsequently, after a suicient number of bands had accumulated in the pit, the process was stopped and the bands removed and disposed of. Because of their length and exibility the bands generally become entangled making their removal from the pit difcult. Removal was made additionally diflicult by oil accumulation in the pit and on therbands.

The above problems and others are overcome by the present invention which provides an improved method and apparatus for automatically removing and disposing of circumferential wrapping bands from a bound coil. The invention provides positive gripping of the band and allows it to be deformed into an easily handled compact mass simultaneously with removal.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an improved method of removing and disposing of circumferentially extending wrapping bands from bound coil.

The method comprises the steps of:

(a) Positioning the coil with its axis extending generally horizontally;

(b) Severing the band at a point wherein at least a substantial length of the band will fall away from the coil under the inuence of gravity;

(c) Providing, subjacent the coil and in the path of fall of the length of band, a band engaging and gripping conveyor for receiving and moving the band along a second path away from the coil;

d) Providing a rotating band deforming unit for gripping and pulling a band moved along the second path; and,

(e) Rotating the deforming unit until all of the band 3,557,591 Patented Jan. 26, 1971 ICC has been pulled from the coil and passed through the unit.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, apparatus of the type described is provided including:

Support means for supporting and rotating a coil with its axis extending horizontally;

Band severing means positioned adjacent the support means for severing the band on the coil at a point wherein at least a substantial length of the band will fall away from the coil under the influence of gravity;

Conveyor means mounted subjacent the severing means in the path of fall of the length of band for conveying the band along a second path away from the coil; and,

Rotatable band deforming means positioned at the discharge end of said conveyor for receiving the severed band and pulling it away from the coil while simultaneously reducing it into a coil.

Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is the provision of method and apparatus for simutaneously removing and disposing of wrapping bands from bound cylindrical coils.

Another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of the type described which includes a band disposing means that simultaneously pulls the band away from the bound coil and reduces the band to a small, easily handled coil.

A further object is the provision of coil band removing apparatus wherein the band is gripped and positively withdrawn from the coil.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevation, partially in section, of one station in a typical coil processing line including a band severing and disposing apparatus formed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation, partially in section, of the conveying and disposing portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the portion of the apparatus shown inFIG. 2; and,

FIG. 5 is a right end view, partially in section, of the portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows somewhat diagrammatically, a coil processing and handling line with a station A having a coil band severing and disposing apparatus B associated therewith. The details of the processing line form no part of the invention but would preferably be, for example, as shown in the commonly assigned copending application Ser. No. `693,- 345, iiled Dec. 26, 1967.

'Specifically as shown, station A includes a coil suppor-tlng means 10 arranged to support a bound coil of strip steel 12 with its longitudinal axis 14 extending -generally horizontally. The support means 10 could take a variety of forms but is shown as a cradle type support which includes a frame 16 carrying a pair of large diameter, horizontally extending rollers 18 and 20. Roller 20 is power driven by reversible motor means not shown so as to be capable of imparting selective clockwise or counterclockwise rotation to coil 12 positioned on the rollers. Additionally, frame 16 is preferably cantileverly mounted for selective oscillation about the axis of roll 20. This permits the frame 16 to be oscillated between a raised position and a lower position so that after the coil wrapping band has been removed the frame can be lowered to roll the coil 12 to the next processing position to the left of that shown in FIG. l. For this reason, an air cylinder 22 is mounted beneath the frame 16 and has one end pivotally connected to -the frame through a bracket 24 and the piston rod pivotally connected to the stationary main base frame 26 through a bracket 28.

Positioned adjacent the station A and arranged to remove and dispose of -the circumferentially extending band 30 on coil 12 is the band severing and disposing apparatus B. Specifically, apparatus B includes a band severing or breaking unit 34 and a band conveying and deforming unit 36. The band severing apparatus 34 could be of a variety of constructions but is shown as constructed generally in the same manner as described inthe aforementioned, commonly assigned copending application. As shown, apparatus 34 includes a pair of side frame members 38 which are pivotally connected at their lower end to support brackets bearing blocks 40 carried from `the stationary base frame 26. (Although only one of members 38 is shown, it will be appreciated that the other is located behind and spaced from the one shown in FIG. 1.) Preferably, the side frame members 38 are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the maximum width of coil to be handled in the apparatus. Connected between the upper ends of the side frame members 38 is a roller unit 42 which includes a pair of spaced rollers arranged to engage the outer circumference of the coil 12 on opposite sides of the circumferential stripping band 30. Mounted for selective oscillation about the same axis as the rollers 42 is an elongated wedgelike breaker bar member 44. Member 44 has a relatively sharp lower edge 62 which is cut out at loca-tions corresponding to the locations of bands 30. Lever arms 46 extend outwardly from the breaker bar bearings or supports and are provided with air or hydraulic cylinders 48 which have their piston rods 50 pivotally connected to the outer end of the levers 46. The cylinders 48 are in turn pivotally connected to brackets 52 which extend outwardly from, and are connected to, the side frame members 38. The specific construction and arrangement of the breaker bar and its associated cylinders 48 can best be seen by reference to the aforementioned patent application which is herein incorporated by reference.

In the embodiment shown, the side frames 38 are arranged to be oscillated about the axis 54 by a fluid cylinder 56 which is pivotally supported from the stationary main base frame 26. The cylinder rod 58 of cylinder 56 is in turn pivotally connected to an arm 60 extending to the right from side frames 38. Accordingly, by actuation of the cylinder 56 the band breaking unit 34 can be oscillated from the position shown solid to any of a select position such as indicated by the dotted line showings `42' and 4 of the roller 42.

The actual band severing7 or breaking operation of the unit 34 can be understood by reference to the aforementioned patent application; however, briefly, band severing takes place as follows. First, the unit 34 is oscillated to its position shown solid wherein the outer surface of the rollers of roller unit 42 engage the outer surface of the coil 12. At this time, the coil is rotated counterclockwise and the cylinder 48 is actuated to oscillate the lower edge of the breaker bar or wedge member 44 into engagement with the surface of the rotating coil. The lower edge 62 of the breaker bar 44 enters between the tail end of the coiled strip and the main body of the coil. This wedges the tail end away of the strip from the coil body and tensions and breaks the wrapping strip or band 30 at approximately the location of the breaker bar.

-Of particular importance to the invention is the location of the point at which the band is broken. As shown in FIG. 1, the breaker bar 44 is positioned a substantial distance above the roller so that when the band is broken a free length a of the band will be free to fall downwardly under the influence of gravity. The tail end of the coiled strip will, however, because of its greater inexibility, continue up and engage the back or right hand side of roller 42. Although not of particular importance to the invention, immediately after the band is broken the frame 38 is oscillated downwardly to the right, to the position indicated bythe dotted line showing 42 for the roller 42.

4 Consequently, during the continued rotation ofthe coil the tail end is fed out along the path indicated by dotted line 12. Consequently, this tail portion of the coil is given a reverse bend to remove any set and facilitate subsequent feeding of the strip to the strip processing line.

Of particular importance to the invention is the arrangement for receiving and disposing of the severed band 30. As best shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the band conveying and disposing apparatus 36 is positioned subjacent the severing apparatus 34 and aligned with the path of fall of the free end portion a of the severed band 30. Referring specically to FIGS. 2 through 4, it is seen that apparatus 36 includes a generally U-shaped guideway 67 which is formed by a plate bent to have two upwardly extending and outwardly flaring sides `68. The trough `67 is of a length sufficient to receive the entire section a of the severed band 30', recognizing that because the coil 12 is being rotated, additional band is being fed out.

Positioned at the bottom of the trough 67 and extending through a groove 70 formed therein, is an endless belt-type conveyor unit 72. Conveyor 72 includes a pair of guide rollers 74 and 76 about which is trained a conveyor belt 78. The roller 76 is keyed to a center shaft 78 which is rotatably supported in suitable bearings 80 (see FIG. 4) carried on a rframe `82 mounted beneath the trough 72. Guide roller 74 is likewise keyed or otherwise positively connected to a shaft 86 rotatably supported in bearings 88 carried in a Y-shaped bracket 90. The bracket 90 is arranged for longitudinal movement relative to frame |82 so that the proper tension can be maintained in belt 78. For this reason, the bracket 92 is supported from frame 82 by a pair of elongated shafts 94 which are welded at their left-hand end to bracket 92 and received in suitable slide bearings 96 formed in bracket 82. A continual leftward bias is maintained on the shafts 94 and the bracket 92 by a pair of coil springs 100' which extend between a downwardly extending portion 102 of frame 82 and shoulders 'i104 formed on shafts 100. Washers 106 connected to the right-hand ends of shaffts 100 by screws 108 function as stop members to limit the total leftward movement of the shafts and bracket 92.

Preferably, the conveyor 72 is arranged to magnetically attrack and grip the band 30. For this reason, the roller 76 is formed from a magnetic material and the belt 78 is preferably also magnetic. Consequently, the action of the conveyor 72 in conjunction with the rotation of the coil 12 produce a positive gripping and feeding of the band 30 along a path away from the coil.

4Of primary importance to the invention is the provision of means whereby the severed band is positively gripped and pulled away from the coil while being simultaneously deformed into a. small, easily handled coil. These means could be of a variety of types but preferably include a band deforming unit 110 mounted at the discharge end of the conveyor 72 and constructed generally in the manner shown. Specifically, as shown, unit 110 includes first and second cooperating rotatable gearlike members 112 and 114, respectively, which function to grip the band therebetween to thus crimp it and cause it to be coiled into a relatively small diameter coil which can be easily disposed of. As best shown in FIG. 2, the first member 112 has a somewhat smaller effective diameter and is provided with an outer periphery of generally star-shaped configuration. The second member 114 has a larger effective diameter and has an outer periphery which is generally complementary to the outer periphery of member 112. The first member 112 is keyed or otherwise positively connected to a horizontally extending shaft 116 which is rotatably supported in a frame 118 by suitable bearings 120. Frame 118 is rigidly mounted from the main stationary base frame 26 in any convenient manner. (As shown in FIG. 3, the previously discussed frame 82 is connected to the top of the left-hand end of frame 118, as viewed in FIG. 2, by cap screws 122.) As can be seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the second rotary member 114 is keyed to a horizontally extending shaft 126 which is rotatably mounted in bearings 128 carried in a frame or housing 130.

In order to permit the upper member |114 to move away from the lower member 112 when an especially thick portion of the band passes therebetween (such as the band connector 132 shown in FIG. 2), frame 130 is pivotally mounted to frame 118. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, it is seen that a pair of legs 134 extend upwardly from frame 118 and support a horizontal shaft 136 on which the frame 130 is pivotally mounted.

In order to maintain the proper crimping force between member 1114 and member 112, while permitting the members to separate under an extremely thick band portion, the left-hand end of frame 130 (as viewed in FIGS. I'2. and 4) is maintained under a continual counterclock- -wise bias by a pair of spring units 138. As shown in FIG. 4, each of the spring units 138 includes a lirst pivot member 140 which is connected to frame 130 by a screw 142. A rod 144 is connected to its respective pivot member 140 and extends downwardly therefrom passing freely through openings formed in frames 82 and 118. Compression springs 146 surround the rods 1144. 'Ihe upper ends of the springs bear against the under surface of frame 118, whereas, the lower ends bear against spring retaining washers 148 and adjusting nuts 150 connected to the ,ends of the rods. This arrangement permits the biasing force acting to move the members 112 and 114 together to be readily adjusted.

Members 112 and i114 can be driven by any conventional means, however, the means preferably comprise an electric motor 1'50 (see FIG. 5) connected through a gear box 152 and shafts and universal joint assemblages 154 and 156 with the ends of the shafts 126 and 116, respectively. This arrangement provides a simultaneous constant speed drive for both of the rotary deforming members while permitting them to selectively move apart.

Additionally, as is apparent, the conveyor ;unit 72 should preferably be driven at a rate corresponding with the deforming units. Although this could be accomplished in many ways, according to the preferred embodiment, the conveyor is driven from shaft 116 by a roller-chain drive connection 1160 which includes sprockets 162 and 164 keyed or otherwise positively connected to the outer ends of shafts 116 and 78, respectively. This arrangement permits the speed f the deforming unit and the conveyor unit to be maintained substantially equal without the use of any special controls or other drive members.

In the operation of the subject device, the coil is rotated in the counterclockwise direction until the tail end of the band passes between roller 20l and the main body of coil 12. Thereafter, the direction of rotation of the coil can be reversed and rewound. Throughout this period the deforming unit is operated to continually pull the severed band and deform it into a small ball which subsequently falls into a subjacent hopper or scrap conveyor such as shown at 180i in FIG.y 1.

The invention has been described in great detail s-uflicient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the same. Obviously, modifications and alterations of the preferred embodiment will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the specification and it is my intention to include all such modifications and alterations as part of my invention insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for removing and disposing of circumferentially extending flexible wrapping bands from bound cylindrical coils andthe like comprising:

support means for supporting a bound coil with its axis extending generally horizontally;

severing means associated with said support means for severing the band on said coil at a point selected so that at least a yfirst portion of the length of the severed band will fall away from said coil;

guide means positioned to receive the first portion of the length of the severed band and conduct it along a predetermined path; and,

band deforming means positioned along said path for receiving said band and deformng it into a coil.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide means includes a power conveyor and said band deforming means includes a pair of rotatable gearlike members positioned at the discharge end of the conveyor.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means includes means for rotating said coil about its axis.and said severing means includes means for severing said band while said coil is rotating.

4. A method of removing and disposing of a circumferentally extending Iwrapping band from a bound cylindrical coil, comprising the steps of (a) positioning said coil with its axis extending horizontally;

(b) rotating said coil about its axis and, simultaneously severing said band at a point wherein at least a portion of the length of the severed band will fall away from the coil under the influence of gravity;

(c) providing, in the path of fall of the band, guide means for receiving the severed band and guiding it along a predetermined path away from the coil;

(d) providing along said predetermined path, deforming means for reducing the band into a coil; and

(e) continuing to rotate the coil in the rst direction until substantially all of the severed band has been passed to the deforming means.

5. Apparatus for removing and disposing of a circumferentially extending wrapping band from a bound cylindrical coil comprising:

roller cradle means for supporting a coil with its axis extending horizontally and including power means for rotating a supported coil about its axis;

a band severing means for engaging the coil during rotation and severing the band at a point substantially above the roller cradle means so that the length of band between the severing means and the roller cradle means will fall away from the coil under the inuence of gravity;

a band guide means subjacent the severing means and positioned to receive the severed band, said band guide means including means for conveying the severed band along a predetermined path away from the coil; and,

a band deforming means positioned along said predetermined path for reducing the severed band into a coil.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said band deforming means includes a pair of rotatable gearlike members in mating relationship and positioned along said predetermined path for receiving the severed band therebetween.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein at least one of said gearlike members is maintained under a preetermined resilient bias toward the other of said memers.

8. The apparatus as defined in {claim 6 wherein said gearlike members are power drivenI and said guide means includes .a conveyor driven simultaneously vwith said guide means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,092,350 6/ 1963 Thompson 242-78 3,188,846 6/1965 Fugassi 242-78.8 3,408,020 10/ 1968 "Scott 242-787 3,461,703 8/1969 Ranney 242-78.8X

MILTON S. MEHR, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 

